Williams shrugs off injury scare

Serena Williams suffered an injury scare at the Australian Open but insisted she would be fit for her second-round encounter on Thursday.

Williams suffered a heavy fall during her crushing 6-0 6-0 win over Edina Gallovits-Hall, damaging her right ankle and having to undergo lengthy treatment on Hisense Arena.

But the American, chasing a fifth title in Melbourne, was adamant she would return to court to face Garbine Muguruza in two days' time.

"I'll be out there," said the third seed. "I mean, unless something fatal happens to me, there's no way I'm not going to be competing.

"I'm alive, my heart's beating, I'll be fine."

The fall occurred with Williams leading 4-0 in the first set. It was reminiscent of the injury which forced her out of the Brisbane International last year and undermined her challenge in Melbourne as she lost to Ekaterina Makarova in the last 16.

She added: "It reminded me a lot of Brisbane. I thought 'oh no, not again'.

"But I've had such a good year that I don't think it's anything negative. I just hope it's nothing serious because it was serious last year."